Deck the Halls, Strike the Chorus and Join the Feast
Many of you will have decked your halls for Christmas by now, some of you even started decorating in November though some of you may delay the decorating until Christmas Eve. Using evergreen plants to decorate homes and communal buildings is an ancient custom full of symbolism and you can discover this fascinating history and symbolism in the first episode/article included in today’s supplement. This time of year is also filled with the joys of deliciously festive food and drink, many with long and interesting histories, which you can explore in the second of today’s episodes/articles.
So find another cosy or cool corner of the house, pour yourself a hot or cold drink, whatever suits your weather and your fancy, and enjoy today’s episode/articles.
Episode 5 - Deck the Halls and Stike the Chorus! Evergreens, wassailing, carolling and the Mati Lwyd
The tradition of decking the halls and the Deck the Halls carol
Evergreen symbolisms and folklore including conifers and pine cones, holly, ivy and mistletoe
Wassailing and the origins of carolling
The Mari Lwyd
Episode 6 - Winter Feast! The history of Christmas and Yule dinner, sweets and warm beverages
Christmas dinner including the roast boar/pig, the Christmas bird (turkey, duck and goose), Nordic smörgåsbord, Italian and French Christmas dinner
Sweets and treats including plum pudding, mince pies, Christmas cake, King Cake, Gingerbread and spice cookies (gingerbread men, regional gingerbread traditions, gingerbread cake and gingerbread houses), Yule Log Cake, oranges, chestnuts, porridge and bread
Warm Beverages including Glögg, Glühwein and Mulled Wine, Eggnogg and Hot Toddy
The latest Wheel & Cross episode and article, Episode 26 - A History of Santa’s Elves: The Nice and the Not So Nice, is scheduled for publication on Thursday. It will explore the origins and evolution of Santa’s Christmas Elves as well as Santa’s dark and often scary helpers from the European mainland including Zwarte Piet, Krampus, Knecht Ruprecht, Belznickel, and Pere Fouttard)
See you then!